UCF starter Latavius Murray may play against Missouri

ORLANDO — UCF still hopes senior starting RB Latavius Murray will be back in the rotation for the Knights' (2-1) big game against Missouri (2-1) Sept. 29.

UCF has a bye this week, giving Murray a bit more time recover from a shoulder injury he suffered during the first half of the season opener at Akron.

Murray has not played this season since his strong early performance against the Zips.

UCF coach George O'Leary has declined to discuss the specific type of shoulder injury, but he did confirm it did not require surgery. He listed Murray as week-to-week following the Knights' win over Akron.

The forecast has shifted a bit.

"Talking to the doctors [Monday], instead of week-to-week, he's day-to-day," O'Leary said during an appearance on the David Baumann Show earlier this week. "Hopefully he'll get some practice time on Friday this week. We'll make a decision after seeing how he's running around, see how he takes a hit and take it from there."

O'Leary said during the radio appearance that the Knights would not rush to get Murray back in the lineup.

"The most important thing, which I told the doctor, is I don't want to bring him back unless he's fully recovered," he said during Baumann's show. "Not make a decision based on emotion and have him reinjure anything. It's their call. It's not my call whether he helps us out or not. I want to know by Sunday of next week if he's in the game plan or not."